Soon after being snatched up 12 overall in last month's draft, Aday Mara warned OKC Thunder fans that it may take him some time to get adjusted to the NBA's style of play and, in turn, become the player Sam Presti selected him to be.
Through two games in this year's Summer League, it's clear that he wasn't underselling his take on needing time to acclimate, as he's appeared rather sluggish on defense and careless with the rock in his hands while being outplayed by his direct assignments.
Now, while his recent production may just be the result of a mere adjustment period, it hasn't stopped the worrywarts from voicing their fears about a potential slow start to Mara's Thunder career.
With this, Thomas Sorber has now somehow become even more important for the Thunder than many may have initially believed.
Thomas Sorber may be more ready to play for Thunder than Aday Mara
While Sorber has yet to play a single minute of action since arriving in the Sooner State as the 15 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, his presence around the team and limited participation in practices throughout his red-shirted tenure may have him more up to speed with how the league operates than Mara currently is.
Prior to going down with a torn ACL last September, the big man came into the association boasting a highly impressive draft profile.
Behind his elite defensive chops and impressive one-and-done campaign at Georgetown, where he posted 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 offensive boards, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game, even with an injury-shortened season, Sorber was still viewed by many as a top-12 prospect among his classmates that OKC landed outside of the lottery.
Still only 20 years old, the big man is the same age or even younger than several lottery-selected talents in this year's festivities, including his new 23-year-old teammate Mara.
Should he enter training camp at full health, it should be assumed that Sorber will be a direct competitor to Mara in the running for the fourth big spot in coach Mark Daigneault's pecking order, behind Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams.
In fact, considering his skill set and innate athleticism, when taking into account Mara's recent struggles, there seems to be a real possibility that the former Hoya standout could have a slight leg up over the towering 7-foot-3 prospect right out of the gates.
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